Madera Verde

December 16, 2006

The first Madera Verde Conference took place between 7th and 10th December, 2006 at the Desert Springs Resort and Golf Club. As winner of the 2005 Spanish National Madera Verde Award, for its extraordinary attention and care for its natural environment, Desert Springs was also chosen to host the inaugural conference, which concerned the ways and means by which golf courses, their design and management could contribute positively to their natural surroundings.

It is part of the initiative by the Spanish National Association for the Promotion of Social and Cultural Affairs (APAS) and The Spanish Royal Federation of Golf to reverse the unwarranted assumption that golf is elitist and also harmful to its environment. Delegates attended from amongst the 60 golf clubs, which participated in the 2005 awards, with over 100 people attending the 2-day conference. On Friday the delegates attended the formal presentations of the conferences, whilst Saturday was set aside as a ‘golf day’.

Those who ventured out onto the Indiana Course were organized into teams of four to play in the Madera Verde Cup – a Texas Scramble competition over 18 Holes. The top 3 teams were all very close, but were well clear of the rest of the field. The inaugural champions of the Madera Verde Cup were Pilar Perez de la Senra, Silvia Plaza, Jose Luis Cañedo and Rafael Ortiz. Taking second place Hector Llanza, Jose Luis Fortea, Pedro Zugasti (Director of APAS) and Anthony Brooks were beaten by just 0.6 strokes: 58.6 to 58.2! In third position with a score of 60.8 were Rosa Perez, Emilio Romeu, Ana Fernandez de Tejada and Francisco Sanchez.

A gala dinner In El Torrente Restaurant on Saturday night drew a conclusion to a very stimulating, and informative, successful and enjoyable, inaugural Madera Verde Conference.